Requirements for hot work onboard

Requirements for hot work onboard

The Republic of Marshall Islands issued a marine notice, setting out the revised requirements for hot work, including all ships, not just tank ships and combination carriers. Hot Work involves sources of ignition or temperature sufficiently high enough to cause the ignition of a flammable gas mixture.

Hot work traditionally includes, but is not limited to, any work requiring the use of electric arc or gas welding equipment, cutting burner equipment or other forms of naked flame, as well as heating or spark generating tools which are not certified for use in hazardous areas.

Hot Work procedures

1.Hot work procedures must be developed based on MSC/Circ.1084, Principles for Hot Work on Board All Types of Ships. The procedures must be incorporated into the SMS of the ship where such systems are required.

2. The procedures must ensure that:

any hot work is justified and deemed necessary for the safety and/or the immediate operation of the ship and that all viable alternatives have been considered;

the hot work policy supports a permit-to-work system that is easily understandable to the crew;

a risk assessment has been conducted to consider all hazards, including but not limited to:

-entering enclosed spaces if applicable to the job
-the type of cargo being carried;
-surrounding hazards near the work area (e.g. ventilator heads);
-whether a fitting can be removed from a hazardous cargo area before hot work is performed;
-availability of local fire-fighting equipment;
-the anticipated duration of the work; and
-the appointment of a suitably qualified responsible officer-in-charge.

the Master maintains overriding authority and discretion to take actions deemed necessary in accordance with MI-108, §7.41.1.

3. Industry guidance appropriate to the ship type is to be utilized when developing the hot work procedures. This guidance includes, but is not limited to, the most recent versions of:

OCIMF, Guidelines on Safety Management Systems for Hot Work and Entry into Enclosed Spaces;

ICS, Tanker Safety Guide (Chemicals);

ICS, Tanker Safety Guide (Liquefied Gas);

BLU Code, The Draft Code of Practice for the Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers; and

ILO publication, Accident prevention on board ship at sea and in port.

Hot work within the cargo area is prohibited on ships that are carrying or have carried a flammable substance or those that emit flammable vapors, except when the process is strictly controlled in accordance with the ship’s hot work procedures.